New Delhi: Justice Alok Aradhe has been appointed as Acting Chief Justice of Karnataka HC on Thursday. The current Chief Justice Ritu Raj demits office on Saturday (July 2).


"In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint, Justice Alok Aradhe, senior-most judge in Karnataka High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from Sunday (July 3) consequent upon the retirement of Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Chief Justice, Karnataka High Court," said a release from Department of Justice (Appointments Division, Ministry of Law & Justice.


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Justice Awasthi will retire on July 2 on the eve of his 62nd birthday. While Supreme Court judge retire at the age of 65, High Court judges retire at 62.


Taking this to his Twitter, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju wished all the best for Justice Aradhe.






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Justice Aradhe was appointed as Madhya Pradesh High Court Judge in December 2009 and later was transferred to High Court of Jammu & Kashmir on September 2016. In May 2018, he was appointed as Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir. And he was transferred to Karnataka High Court in November 2018.